Coupler positioning device



July 7, 1931. GlLPlN 1,813,538

COUPLER POSITIONING DEVICE Filed Dec 5. 1929 Invemor:

Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE GARTH G. GILPIN, OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE COUPLER POSITIONING DEVICE Application filed December 5, 1929. Serial No..411,820.

The device relates to means for automatically positioning the coupler of a railway car by gravity and has for its object to provide means tending to prevent a swingable coupler carrier from rubbing against adjacent parts of the car, which rubbing not only causes wear of the adjacent car part and/or the carrier but also restricts the free and easy swinging movement of the coupler carrier.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a typical application of my device to a railway car.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier element.

Fig. 4 shows a supporting link in detail.

Fig. 5 shows a section through the preferred form of carrier.

Fig. 6 shows a section through a modified form of carrier.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the relation of the associated parts.

My improvement is shown in combination with a form of coupler positioning device now in general use wherein the swingable coupler carrier 2 is suspended from the striking casting or other car part 3 by links 4 positioned at the opposite ends of the coupler carrier, which links each have a double trunnion 5 at each end which engage journal bearings 8 and 9 in the carrier 2 and car part 3, respectively.

Such a swingable coupler carrier 2 usually has substantial unrestricted movement longitudinally of itself, which movement, however, is limited by the side of the coupler coming in contact with the car part (at 6). The usual carrier is provided with lugs 7 to retain thecoupler substantially in the middle of the carrier.

It is desirable to restrict the swinging movement of the coupler carrier longitudinally of the car (laterally of the carrier) to within narrow confines, which is usually accomplished by positioning the carrier between or adjacent certain parts 10-11 of the car.

The couplers 12 are usually positioned so that when they are in draft (tension) they are clear of the coupler carriers (usually about so that as the train is running the coupler does not wear'the carrier or yice 'versa. In other words, the end 13 of the coupler 12 attached to the draft gear is higher than the. head of the coupler so that the portion 13 of the coupler which engages the carrier is'obliquely positioned. Under buff (compression) and also when the coupler is not coupled with another coupler, the coupler rests entirely upon the outer edge of the present type of carrier which tips the carrier.

This condition may also prevail on account of irregularities of constructionand assem- I blage. I

The present coupler. carrier has a horizonmsx tal engaging surface upon whichthe coupler rests, but my invent-ion is an improvement thereon and consists in making the engaging surface of the carrier for the coupler'higher adjacent the rear part 20, whereby the weight of the coupler is distributed over the entire width of the carrier, thus eliminating any tipping tendency in fact, .I prefer to form the engaging surface of the carrier somewhat higher at the side' thereof nearer the car so that the coupler would actually tip the'lower part of'the carrieraway from the car.

The coupler 12 is higher adjacent theend 13' attached to the draft gear so that the coupler rests entirely upon the outer edge" of the horizontal engaging surface of the carrier, thus tipping thecarrier, and forcing the lower part of the carrier against the adjacent car part. This tipping throws the entire weight of the coupler on the outer lower trunnion of the supporting link, which causes excessive wear at that point or may result. in bending the. link. I Fig. 7 shows my improved construction wherein the engaging surface 26 of the carrier for the coupler is parallel to the bottom13 of the coupler.

The, contour of this engagingsurface may 'be providedby forming an elevated portion 30 adjacent one side of the carrier, as shown in Fig. 6, but in orderto increase the bearposition; or in other words, the engaging surface is in a flat plane, which plane is obliquely positioned relative to the plane of the swinging movement of the carrier and the links. (See Fig. 5.)

The accompanyingfdrawing s illustrate the U preferred form; ofiithe invention, though it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as -it ,is 'obviousihat-svarious modifications..- thereof," within the; scope .zof the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim: 7 r

1. In a railway car, the combination of a coupler carrier swingably suspended from the car .to swingilaterally"thereof and ;p' ro,- vided with a coupler engaging .surfaee ob liquelylpositioned relative to thef plane i-of the,

20 swinging movement ofthe ,carr -ier. r

" 2. -A- couple'r carrier having a journal bear} ing and a coupler supporting ,surface posi:

tioned obliquely relative to each other.

In a railway car, the.combinationhofna I goupler carrier provided with a pair of journal bearings at eachend, thereof and having a coupler engaging: surface ,V therebetween,

links swingably suspendingsaid carrier from a car part;eachlofsaidlinks-having a double trunnion at its lower end engaging respectively said j ournal bearings, and a car coupler having the. ,end v attachedfto i the. draft :gear', higher than .the opposite end. thereof whereby wthe portion of the. coupler which engages as the carrier is obliquelypositioned said cou F a-e a in r u ia h ngh iqu la' P tioned, relative to a plane, ;pas sing' .through the axes {of saidtrunnions i i J ek lway we. t c mh n tie ni I e p ru rri r w hgah y'i i uspen d f q xu he o s ng in a substan ia ly r ic l: p a ev a d Pr v d d, w h: a; z ohplerrengaei surface, a ..ca r, part positionedadjacent; ong; side ofsflid carrier, antl a car coupler. having 5 a carrier engagingsuriaee positioned rin anr oblique plane when assembled,in the car I, said coupler engaging surface 1of, theq carrier being substantially parallel to the-carrien en .4 gaging u i heup wherein merm id UP Sihi her y: e ar e he 0 t:,o contact-with SflICLQZfiIKPflI't; during the swing ingmovements of the carrieru 5;; In a railway tear, the combination of -a coupler. carrier 1 swingably 1 suspended flfromm the car to swing in a substantially verticalplane, and provided-with a coupler engagingsurface, a car part positioned-adjacentone side'of said carrier',-an'd a car coupler having 60 a carrierengaging surfacepositioned in' a-n 1: "oblique plane when assembled in the car, said 'j l r,h egil fi l e o e rr eri na iI g, said oupl n at. ore, ithanuonen new;

whenin onma' 'po tionn v llerleter i he cars fi5-=-irier is' held out. of contacts with sa d e npart; 

